EP3428703B1 - Procédé de fabrication de bande de fibre optique - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication de bande de fibre optique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3428703B1
EP3428703B1 EP16897966.4A EP16897966A EP3428703B1 EP 3428703 B1 EP3428703 B1 EP 3428703B1 EP 16897966 A EP16897966 A EP 16897966A EP 3428703 B1 EP3428703 B1 EP 3428703B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
colored layer
optical fiber
connecting material
optical fibers
fiber ribbon
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EP16897966.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3428703A4 (fr
EP3428703A1 (fr
Inventor
Mizuki Isaji
Soichiro Kaneko
Ken Osato
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Fujikura Ltd
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Fujikura Ltd
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Priority claimed from PCT/JP2016/083012 external-priority patent/WO2017175414A1/fr
Publication of EP3428703A1 publication Critical patent/EP3428703A1/fr
Publication of EP3428703A4 publication Critical patent/EP3428703A4/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4479—Manufacturing methods of optical cables
    • G02B6/4482—Code or colour marking
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • C03C25/104—Coating to obtain optical fibres
    • C03C25/1065—Multiple coatings
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C25/00—Surface treatment of fibres or filaments made from glass, minerals or slags
    • C03C25/10—Coating
    • C03C25/24—Coatings containing organic materials
    • C03C25/26—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers
    • C03C25/32—Macromolecular compounds or prepolymers obtained otherwise than by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
    • C03C25/326—Polyureas; Polyurethanes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4401—Optical cables
    • G02B6/4403—Optical cables with ribbon structure
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/44—Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables
    • G02B6/4479—Manufacturing methods of optical cables
    • G02B6/448—Ribbon cables

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon.
  • Patent Literatures 1 and 2 disclose an optical fiber ribbon (optical fiber ribbon with discontinuous connections) having 3 or more optical fibers arranged side by side and connected at separate portions axially to each other.
  • Patent Literature 3 discloses an optical cable (loose-tube-type optical cable) in which a tube is filled with gel as a filler material (waterproof material).
  • Patent Literature 4 discloses durable optical fiber ribbons formed by promoting a strong bond between fiber ink layers and ribbon matrix material. During curing of the ink layer, desired oxygen levels are maintained in the curing environment of the manufacturing process.
  • Patent Literature 5 discloses a method for making an optical fiber ribbon containing a plurality of optical fibers being co-planar and arranged in parallel.
  • the method comprises coating the border fibers with a first radiation-curable ink, coating the remainder of the plurality of optical fibers with a second radiation-curable ink, partially curing the first radiation-curable ink, substantially fully curing the second radiation-curable ink, applying a matrix material over the plurality of optical fibers, and substantially fully curing the matrix material and the partially-cured ink substantially simultaneously.
  • Patent Literature 6 discloses a method of manufacturing a colored optical fiber having a colored layer as the outermost layer of the optical fiber. An optical fiber is provided with a primary layer and secondary layer delivered from a delivery bobbin and then passed through a coloring ink coating device by which the coloring ink is applied thereon.
  • the fiber is then passed through a coloring ink curing device having a UV irradiation lamp.
  • the colored optical fiber 5 is made into optical fibers which are then made into a coated fiber ribbon.
  • the curing state of the ultraviolet curable resin of the colored ink by the colored ink curing device is controlled, and the ultraviolet curable resin is cured so as to have a degree of curing of 80 to 90%.
  • the degree of curing may be determined by a solvent extraction method.
  • An objective of this invention is to suppress destruction in the connection parts.
  • a primary aspect of the invention for achieving the aforementioned objective is a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon including:
  • connection parts can be suppressed from being destroyed.
  • a method for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon including:
  • Forming the colored layer includes applying the coloring agent made of radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin to the optical fibers, and irradiating ultraviolet light to the coloring agent while making the uncured resin remain on the surface due to oxygen inhibition
  • forming the optical fiber ribbon includes applying the connecting material made of radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin to the surface of the colored layer on which the uncured resin remains, and curing the connecting material and the uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer by irradiating ultraviolet light to the connecting material.
  • the uncured resin can be made to remain on the surface and the inside can be cured when forming the colored layer, and thus manufacturing the optical fibers becomes easy.
  • Forming the ribbon preferably includes applying the connecting material to an entire circumferential surface of the optical fibers each formed with the colored layer, and by irradiating ultraviolet light to the connecting material, curing the connecting material applied to the entire circumference of the optical fibers and the uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer. In this way, it is possible to suppress the uncured resin from remaining in the optical fiber ribbon that has been manufactured.
  • Forming the ribbon preferably includes applying the connecting material between the optical fibers and on the entire circumferential surface of the optical fibers each formed with the colored layer, removing a part of the connecting material applied between the optical fibers while making the connecting material applied between the optical fibers remain, and forming the connection parts at discontinuous parts by irradiating ultraviolet light to the connecting material and curing the connecting material. In this way, applying the connecting material to the entire circumference of the optical fiber and intermittently forming the connection parts can be easily achieved.
  • Forming the colored layer preferably includes, in an atmosphere with oxygen concentration of 0.10% to 1.0%, while making the uncured resin remain on the surface due to oxygen inhibition, irradiating the coloring agent with ultraviolet light to form the colored layer. In this way, destruction in the connection parts can be suppressed.
  • a Young's modulus of the connecting material is preferably 10 to 300 MPa and a breaking strength of the connecting material is preferably 10 to 30 MPa. In this way, the optical fibers can be suppressed from being damaged when individually separating the optical fibers of the optical fiber ribbon.
  • a thickness of the connection part is preferably equal to or greater than 150 ⁇ m. In this way, destruction in the connection parts can be suppressed.
  • An optical fiber ribbon including: a plurality of optical fibers each having a colored layer, the plurality of optical fibers being arranged side by side; and connection parts each connecting two fibers of the optical fibers adjacent to each other, wherein the colored layer is formed by curing a coloring agent such that uncured resin remains on a surface, a connecting material is applied to a surface of the colored layer with the uncured resin remaining, and the connection parts are formed by curing the connecting material, and the uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer is cured. According to such an optical fiber ribbon, destruction in the connection parts can be suppressed.
  • optical cable including:
  • Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a loose-tube-type optical cable 1.
  • This loose-tube-type optical cable 1 includes a tension member 2 (tensile member), a plurality of loose tubes 3, and a sheath 8.
  • a plurality of loose tubes 3 are gathered around the tension member 2.
  • the plurality of loose tubes 3 are gathered by being twisted (wound) around the periphery of the tension member 2 either helically in one direction, or in an S-Z configuration wherein the helical direction is inverted at certain intervals.
  • the outer periphery of the plurality of loose tubes 3, which have been gathered around the tension member 2, is covered with a wrapping tape 7, a sheath material is extruded to the outer periphery of the wrapping tape 7 to form the sheath 8, to thereby manufacture the loose-tube-type optical cable 1 as shown in Fig. 1A .
  • Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a loose tube 3.
  • An individual structure of the loose tube 3 may be herein referred to as an "optical cable” or a "loose-tube cable”.
  • the loose tube 3 contains a plurality of optical fibers 11, a filler material 4, and a tube 5.
  • the filler material 4 is a waterproof material to fill spaces inside the tube 5 and to stop water coming into the tube 5, for example, a gel.
  • the tube 5 is a tubular member that houses the plurality of optical fibers 11 and the filler material 4.
  • the plurality of optical fibers 11 are constituted by one or a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 10 with discontinuous connections.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a loose-tube-type optical cable 1 of another embodiment.
  • This loose-tube-type optical cable 1 includes two tension members 2 (tensile members), a loose tube 3, and a sheath 8.
  • the optical cable 1 illustrated in Fig. 2 is also referred to as a center tube-type cable and the like.
  • the loose tube 3 is arranged inside the sheath 8 so as to be disposed between the two tension members 2.
  • the loose tube 3 contains a plurality of optical fibers 11, a filler material 4, and a tube 5.
  • the plurality of optical fibers 11 are constituted by one or a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 10 each having discontinuous connections.
  • the tension members 2 are arranged longitudinally along the loose tube 3, and the sheath 8 is formed by extruding a sheath material around the tension members 2 and the loose tube 3, to thereby manufacture the loose-tube-type optical cable 1 illustrated in Fig. 2 .
  • FIG. 3A is an explanatory view of an example of an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections.
  • a direction parallel to the optical fibers 11 is referred to as a "length direction”.
  • a direction in which a plurality of optical fibers 11 constituting an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections are aligned is referred to as a "ribbon's width direction”.
  • the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections is an optical fiber ribbon including a plurality of optical fibers 11 arranged side by side and connected at discontinuous parts. Two adjacent ones of the optical fibers 11 are connected with connection parts 12. A plurality of the connection parts 12 that connect two adjacent optical fibers 11 are arranged in a spaced-apart manner in the length direction. The plurality of connection parts 12 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections are arranged at certain intervals and two-dimensionally in the length direction and the ribbon's width direction.
  • the connection parts 12 are formed by applying an ultraviolet cure resin to be an adhesive (connecting material 14) and then ultraviolet light is irradiated to cure the resin (described later).
  • the connection parts 12 can also be made of thermoplastic resin.
  • Regions other than the connection parts 12 between the two adjacent optical fibers 11 constitute non-connected parts 13 (separated parts).
  • the two adjacent optical fibers 11 are not restrained to each other.
  • the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections can be rolled up into a tubular form (a bundle form), or folded up, and the multitude of optical fibers 11 can be housed with high density.
  • a usual optical fiber ribbon 10 in which a plurality of optical fibers 11 arranged in the ribbon's width direction are covered all together may be used.
  • FIG. 3B is an explanatory view of an example of an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections of another embodiment.
  • the number of fibers of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections may be changed appropriately.
  • the arrangement of the connection parts 12 arranged at intervals may be changed appropriately.
  • FIG. 4A is an explanatory view of wiping off the filler material 4 attached to the optical fiber ribbon 10.
  • an operator takes out the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections from the loose tube 3 of the optical cable 1, and then wipes off the filler material 4 (for example, gel) attached to the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections with a cleaning sheet (for example, wiping paper).
  • the filler material 4 for example, gel
  • a cleaning sheet for example, wiping paper
  • the plurality of optical fibers 11 constituting the optical fiber ribbon 10 are separated into individual fibers, the plurality of optical fibers 11 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 cannot be easily combined by fusion all together.
  • This process takes a lot of time and effort.
  • the connection parts 12 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections are preferably not destroyed when wiping off the filler material 4 attached to the optical fiber ribbon 10.
  • FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are cross-sectional views of the connection part 12 of two adjacent ones of the optical fibers 11 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections.
  • FIG. 4B is an explanatory view of the connection part 12 that has been destroyed in the reference example.
  • FIG. 4C is an explanatory view of the connection part 12 that has been destroyed in this embodiment.
  • the optical fiber 11 is configured from an optical fiber part 11A, a cover layer 11B, and a colored layer 11C.
  • the optical fiber 11 is also referred to as a primary coated optical fiber or a secondary coated optical fiber.
  • a diameter of the optical fiber 11 is approximately 250 ⁇ m.
  • the optical fiber part 11A is configured from a core and a clad.
  • the optical fiber part 11A is, for example, a quartz glass fiber.
  • a diameter (clad diameter) of the optical fiber part 11A is, for example, approximately 125 ⁇ m.
  • the cover layer 11B is a layer that coats the optical fiber part 11A.
  • the cover layer 11B is configured from, for example, a primary cover layer (primary coating) and a secondary cover layer (secondary coating).
  • the diameter of the cover layer 11B is, for example, approximately 240 ⁇ m.
  • the colored layer 11C is a layer formed on a surface of the cover layer 11B.
  • the colored layer 11C is formed by applying a coloring agent on a surface of the cover layer 11B.
  • the coloring agent is usually colored, but may be colorless.
  • the coloring agent is configured from an ultraviolet cure resin.
  • the connection part 12 is formed by applying and curing the connecting material 14 (ultraviolet cure resin) on the surface of the colored layer 11C.
  • connection part 12 As shown in FIG. 4B , the resin configuring the connection part 12 on the colored layer 11C has been destroyed in the reference example.
  • the reason that the connection part 12 is destroyed in such a part is not clear. A possibility is that peeling occurred in an interface between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12 (see the part in a thick line in the interface in the figure), a thin resin layer of the connection part 12 broke from this peeling, and the connection part 12 was destroyed.
  • connection parts 12 when the connection parts 12 are split to separate the optical fibers 11 of the intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon 10 into single fibers, the connection parts 12 are destroyed with the colored layer 11C and the connection parts 12 still adhered together as shown in FIG. 4C , and in this way the optical fibers 11 are separated into single fibers.
  • the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections is manufactured by selecting a connecting material 14 with an appropriate Young's modulus and breaking strength and adjusting adhesiveness between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12.
  • FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a device 30 for manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections of this embodiment.
  • the device 30 for manufacturing has a plurality of fiber supply sources 31, a coloring device 40, and a ribbon forming device 50.
  • the number of the fiber supply sources is four.
  • the fiber supply sources 31 are supplying devices (supply sources) to supply optical fibers 11 to the coloring device 40.
  • the optical fibers 11 to be supplied with the fiber supply sources 31 are optical fibers 11 that have not yet been formed with the colored layer 11C, i.e., optical fibers made of optical fiber part 11A and cover layer 11B.
  • the coloring device 40 is a device to form the colored layer 11C to the outer periphery of the cover layer 11B.
  • the coloring device 40 forms the colored layer 11C in the entire circumferential surface of the cover layer 11B in the length direction of the optical fibers 11.
  • the coloring device 40 includes a coloring agent applying part 41 and a curing light source 42.
  • the coloring agent applying part 41 is an applying device to apply a coloring agent made of ultraviolet cure resin to the outer periphery of the cover layer 11B.
  • the coloring agent applying part 41 applies the coloring agent to the entire circumferential surface of the cover layer 11B along the length direction of the optical fibers 11 by, for example, inserting the optical fibers 11 through a coating die filled with a liquid coloring agent.
  • the curing light source 42 is a light source to irradiate ultraviolet light to the coloring agent made of ultraviolet cure resin.
  • the coloring agent applied to the outer periphery of the cover layer 11B is irradiated with ultraviolet light of the curing light source 42 and is cured.
  • the colored layer 11C is formed with the cured coloring agent.
  • the coloring device 40 supplies the optical fibers 11 formed with the colored layer 11C to the ribbon forming device 50.
  • the ribbon forming device 50 is a device to form the connection parts 12 at certain intervals axially and to form the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections.
  • FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are explanatory views of the ribbon forming device 50.
  • the ribbon forming device 50 has a connecting material applying part 51, a removing part 52, and a light source 53.
  • the connecting material applying part 51 is a device to apply a connecting material 14 made of the ultraviolet cure resin between the adjacent optical fibers 11.
  • the connecting material applying part 51 applies the liquid connecting material 14 to the entire circumferential surface of the optical fibers 11 (entire circumferential surface of colored layer 11C) and between the optical fibers 11, along the length direction of the optical fibers 11, by inserting the plurality of optical fibers 11 through the coating die filled with the liquid connecting material 14.
  • the number of the optical fibers is four.
  • the removing part 52 is a device to remove a part of the liquid connecting material 14 applied between the optical fibers 11, while leaving a part of the liquid connecting material 14 on the optical fibers 11.
  • the removing part 52 includes rotary blades 521 each having a recessed part 521A. See FIG. 6A .
  • the removing part 52 makes the rotary blade 521 rotate in synchronism with a supplying speed of the optical fibers 11, and removes or cuts the connecting material 14 applied between the optical fibers 11 with an outer edge of the rotary blade 521 while leaving the connecting material 14 in the recessed part 521A of the rotary blade 521.
  • the removing part 52 removes a part of the liquid connecting material 14 applied between the optical fibers 11 by scraping the connecting material 14 with the outer edge of the rotary blade 521.
  • the light source 53 is a light source to irradiate ultraviolet light to the connecting material 14 made of ultraviolet cure resin.
  • the light source 53 has a preliminary curing light source 53A and a main curing light source 53B.
  • the preliminary curing light source 53A irradiates ultraviolet light to preliminarily cure the connecting material 14.
  • the temporarily cured connecting material 14 is not completely cured, but curing of the surface has advanced.
  • the main curing light source 53B irradiates ultraviolet light more intense than the preliminary curing light source 53A to fully cure the connecting material 14.
  • the fully cured ultraviolet cure resin is in a state cured to the inside (the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections, however, can be rolled into a tubular shape or folded, thus the fully cured connection parts 12 have appropriate elasticity).
  • the optical fibers 11 that have just come out the connecting material applying part 51 and the removing part 52 are arranged with a space between each other.
  • the preliminary curing light source 53A irradiates ultraviolet light to the connecting material 14 in this state, and temporarily cures the connecting material 14.
  • the ribbon forming device 50 gradually narrows the space between the optical fibers 11, aligns the plurality of the optical fibers 11 side by side, and gathers the optical fibers into a ribbon shape. Because the connecting material 14 has preliminarily cured, even when the parts from which the connecting material 14 has been removed (separated parts) contact each other, such parts do not have to be connected.
  • the colored layer 11C and the connection parts 12 are formed as follows.
  • radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin is used as a coloring agent to form the colored layer 11C
  • oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C is adjusted by adjusting oxygen concentration of the coloring device 40
  • a degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is adjusted such that uncured resin is left on the surface of the colored layer 11C.
  • oxygen concentration of the coloring device 40 is increased, oxygen inhibition occurs on the surface of the coloring agent that is the radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin, thus uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer 11C increases, and the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is lowered.
  • uncured resin remains on the surface of the colored layer 11C, the inside of the colored layer 11C is cured, thus manufacturing of the optical fibers 11 becomes easier compared to the state where the inside of the colored layer 11C is uncured.
  • FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the degree of cure of a surface of the colored layer 11C.
  • a graph in the figure shows measurement results of an infrared absorption spectrum.
  • a horizontal axis in the graph shows a wave number (cm -1 ), and a vertical axis shows absorbance.
  • a peak intensity of a band of a double bond of a photopolymerization reaction of a coloring agent (ultraviolet cure resin) is measured, and this measurement value is A.
  • a band of CH out-of-plane bending vibration of a vinyl group is around 808 cm -1 .
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C in an uncured state is 0%
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C when the coloring agent is cured in an oxygen-free condition (most cured state) is 100%.
  • the oxygen concentration is measureable using an oximeter attached inside the coloring device 40.
  • the colored layer 11C (before connection parts 12 are formed) is formed such that the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is 60% to 90%.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is greater than 90%, peeling easily occurs in the interface between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12 (refer to bold line part in interface in FIG. 4B ), thus when wiping off the filler material 4 attached to the optical fiber ribbon 10 (refer to FIG. 4A ), there is a possibility that the connection parts 12 are destroyed unintentionally.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is less than 60%, adhesiveness between the colored layer 11C and the connection parts 12 is too high, and there is a possibility that the cover layer 11B is destroyed with the connection parts 12 when separating the optical fibers 11 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections into single fibers.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is 60% to 90%, the connection parts 12 can be suppressed from being destroyed unintentionally, and also the cover layer 11B can be suppressed from being destroyed when separating the optical fibers 11 into single fibers, as described below.
  • the oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C is adjusted to 0.10% to 1.0%.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C becomes greater than 90% because the oxygen concentration is low, and as a result, when wiping off the filler material 4 attached to the optical fiber ribbon 10 (refer to FIG. 4A ), there is a possibility that the connection parts 12 are unintentionally destroyed.
  • the oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C is greater than 1.0%, adhesiveness between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12 is too high, and there is a possibility that the cover layer 11B is destroyed also with the connection parts 12 when separating the optical fibers 11 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections into single fibers.
  • the ribbon forming device 50 After forming the colored layer 11C by adjusting the degree of cure of the surface as described above, the ribbon forming device 50 forms the connection parts 12.
  • radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin is used also for the connecting material 14 forming the connection parts 12.
  • the ribbon forming device 50 applies liquid connecting material 14 to the entire circumferential surface of the colored layer 11C and between the optical fibers 11 with the connecting material applying part 51, removes a part of the liquid connecting material 14 applied between the optical fibers 11 with the removing part 52, and irradiates ultraviolet light to the connecting material 14 with the light source 53.
  • the connecting material 14 which is the radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin is applied on the surface of the colored layer 11C with the uncured resin remaining, and ultraviolet light is irradiated on the connecting material 14.
  • the photopolymerization initiator of the connecting material 14 becomes radical, and the connecting material 14 cures and forms the connection parts 12, and uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer 11C also cures.
  • adhesiveness between the colored layer 11C and the connection parts 12 becomes high, and peeling in the interface between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12 can be suppressed.
  • the liquid connecting material 14 when applying the connecting material 14, the liquid connecting material 14 is applied to the entire circumferential surface of the colored layer 11C, thus a layer of the connecting material 14 is formed in the entire circumferential surface of the optical fiber 11 (refer to FIG. 4C ). For this reason, the colored layer 11C is not exposed in the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections that has been completed, so that uncured resin does not have to be exposed. The uncured resin remains on the surface of the colored layer 11C when forming the colored layer 11C, but in the case where the liquid connecting material 14 is applied on the entire circumferential surface of the colored layer 11C, the uncured resin on the surface of the colored layer 11C is cured when forming the connection parts 12. Accordingly, even if the completed optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections is analyzed, it is impossible or unrealistic to specify the characteristic of making uncured resin remain on the surface of the colored layer 11C when forming the colored layer 11C.
  • a 12-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections was manufactured with the above-described manufacturing method.
  • a urethane acrylate based ultraviolet cure resin (resin A: Young's modulus of 800 MPa, breaking strength of 50 MPa) was used as the connecting material 14.
  • oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C from a range of an oxygen-free condition (oxygen concentration is less than 0.001% of measurement limit) to 1.0%, the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is gradually adjusted in a range of 100% to 60%.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is measured.
  • a test to wipe off the gel adhered to the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections that has been manufactured is performed, to evaluate whether or not there is destruction in the connection parts 12 after wiping off the gel.
  • a test to split the connection parts 12 of the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections and separate the optical fibers 11 into single fibers is performed, to evaluate also whether or not there is destruction in the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 after being separated into a single fiber (after the connection parts 12 have been split).
  • Example 1 The experiment results of Example 1 are shown in Table 1 below.
  • Table 1 Sample number Connecting material Young's modulus [MPa] Breaking strength [MPa] Oxygen concentration when forming colored layer Degree of cure of surface of colored layer Destruction in connection part after wiping Destruction in cover layer of optical fiber separated into single fiber
  • Resin A 800 50 1.0% 60% No Yes A2 0.30% 85% No Yes A3 0.10% 90% No Yes A4 0.03% 94% Yes Yes A5 0.01% 9 6% Yes Yes A6 0.003% 99% Yes Yes A7 less than 0.001% 100% Yes Yes Yes Yes
  • connection part 12 was destroyed when wiping off the gel. The reason of the above is considered that peeling was likely to occur in the interface between the colored layer 11C and the connection part 12.
  • Example 1 the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into single fibers had been destroyed in all of the samples (sample numbers A1 to A7).
  • the reason of this result is considered that the Young's modulus and the breaking strength of the connection part 12 formed with resin A was high. It is to be noted that in the case where connection part 12 is formed with resin A, the effect of suppressing destruction in the connection part 12 that has been wiped can be achieved, as described above.
  • a 12-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections was manufactured similar to Example 1 using a different resin (connecting material 14) for forming the connection parts 12 from that in Example 1.
  • the Young's modulus and breaking strength of resin B to resin F are shown in Table 2. Further, as similar to Example 1, evaluation of whether or not there is destruction in the connection part 12 from which the gel has been wiped off, and evaluation of whether or not there is destruction in the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into single fibers are performed.
  • Example 2 In the case where there is no destruction in the connection part 12 from which the gel has been wiped off, and there was no destruction in the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into a single fiber, the result was determined "satisfactory", and in the case where there was destruction in at least one of the above, the result was determined "non-satisfactory".
  • the experiment results of Example 2 are shown in Table 2 below.
  • connection part 12 is formed with resin B to resin E
  • the colored layer 11C is formed with the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C 60% to 90% (oxygen concentration of when forming colored layer 11C is 0.10% to 1.0%), destruction of the connection part 12 when wiping the gel can be suppressed.
  • connection part 12 is formed with resin B to resin E with the Young's modulus of 10 to 300 MPa and the breaking strength of 10 to 30 MPa, then not only can destruction in the connection part 12 when wiping off the gel be suppressed, but also destruction in the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into a single fiber can also be suppressed.
  • the connection part 12 is formed with the above-described resin A, the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into a single fiber was destroyed.
  • resin that forms the connection part 12 has the Young's modulus of 10 to 300 MPa and the breaking strength of 10 to 30 MPa.
  • a 12-fiber optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections is manufactured similarly to Examples 1, 2 with a varying thickness of the connection part 12 (size in thickness direction in FIG. 4C ).
  • the colored layer 11C is formed with the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C 60% to 90%, and the connection part 12 is formed with resin B to resin E having the Young's modulus of 10 to 300 MPa and the breaking strength of 10 to 30 MPa.
  • evaluation of whether or not there is destruction in the connection part 12 from which the gel has been wiped off, and evaluation of whether or not there is destruction in the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into a single fiber is performed. Experiment results of Example 3 are shown in Table 3 below.
  • the connection part 12 In the case where the thickness of the connection part 12 is equal to or smaller than 120 ⁇ m, the connection part 12 after wiping off of the gel was destroyed. On the other hand, in the case where the thickness of the connection part 12 is equal to or greater than 150 ⁇ m, destruction of the connection part 12 after wiping off of the gel can be suppressed. Even when the thickness of the connection part 12 is equal to or greater than 150 ⁇ m, the cover layer 11B of the optical fiber 11 that has been separated into a single fiber has not been destroyed. From the above, it is preferable that the thickness of the connection part 12 is equal to or greater than 150 ⁇ m.
  • FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a connection part 12 of adjacent 2-fiber optical fibers 11 of an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections in a second embodiment.
  • the connection part 12 may be configured such that the thickness (size in thickness direction) of the connection part 12 is uniform.
  • the liquid connecting material 14 when applying the connecting material 14, the liquid connecting material 14 is applied to the entire circumferential surface of the colored layer 11C, and in this way, a layer of the connecting material 14 is formed to the entire circumferential surface of the optical fiber 11.
  • the colored layer 11C is not exposed, and thus uncured resin does not have to be exposed.
  • FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of a connection part 12 of adjacent 2-fiber optical fibers 11 of an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections in Embodiment 3. As shown in Embodiment 3, the connection part 12 may be formed only in between the optical fibers 11.
  • FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of a connection part 12 of adjacent 2-fiber optical fibers 11 of an optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections in a fourth embodiment.
  • the connection part 12 is not formed equally in the thickness direction, and the connection part 12 may be formed as displaced to one side in the thickness direction (upper side in the figure).
  • the connecting material 14 is applied only partially to the periphery of the optical fiber 11.
  • the colored layer 11C will be exposed even after the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections has been completed. Because the connecting material 14 is not applied to the exposed section of the colored layer 11C, uncured resin will remain on the surface of the colored layer 11C of this section even after the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections has been completed.
  • connection part 12 in the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment the connecting material 14 does not have to be applied to the entire circumferential surface of the optical fiber 11, thus for example, a method to eject the connecting material 14 toward the optical fiber 11 can be adopted, and there is an advantage that a degree of freedom in the application method of the connecting material 14 increases.
  • radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin is used as a coloring agent to form the colored layer 11C
  • the oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C is adjusted by adjusting oxygen concentration of the coloring device 40
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is adjusted such that uncured resin remains on the surface of the colored layer 11C.
  • the colored layer 11C (before the connection part 12 is formed) is preferably formed such that the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is 60% to 90%.
  • the optical fiber ribbon 10 with discontinuous connections is manufactured by applying the connecting material 14 that is the radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin to the surface of the colored layer 11C on which uncured resin remains, and irradiating ultraviolet light to the connecting material 14 to form the connection part 12.
  • the connecting material 14 that is the radical polymerizable ultraviolet cure resin
  • the connecting material 14 irradiating ultraviolet light to the connecting material 14 to form the connection part 12.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is adjusted such that uncured resin remains on the surface of the colored layer 11C by adjusting the oxygen concentration when forming the colored layer 11C.
  • the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C may be adjusted such that uncured resin remains on the surface of the colored layer 11C.
  • the colored layer 11C is preferably formed such that the degree of cure of the surface of the colored layer 11C is 60% to 90%.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Optical Fibers, Optical Fiber Cores, And Optical Fiber Bundles (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) comprenant :
    la formation d'une couche colorée (11C) sur chacune d'une pluralité de fibres optiques (11) ; et
    la formation d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) en réticulant un matériau de connexion (14) fait d'une résine polymérisable par radicaux et réticulable par ultraviolets appliquée à une surface de la couche colorée de chacune des fibres optiques (11) pour former des parties de connexion (12) qui connectent des fibres optiques adjacentes (11) à des parties séparées axialement les unes des autres,
    la formation de la couche colorée (11C) comprenant :
    l'application d'un agent de coloration fait de résine polymérisable par radicaux et réticulable par ultraviolets aux fibres optiques (11), et
    la réticulation de l'agent de coloration en irradiant l'agent de coloration avec de la lumière ultraviolette de telle sorte que la résine non réticulée reste sur la surface, et
    la formation du ruban de fibres optiques (10) comprenant :
    l'application du matériau de connexion (14) sur la surface de la couche colorée (11C) sur laquelle la résine non réticulée reste, et
    la réticulation du matériau de connexion (14) et de la résine non réticulée sur la surface de la couche colorée par l'irradiation du matériau de connexion (14) avec de la lumière ultraviolette,
    dans lequel
    lorsque l'intensité de pic d'une bande d'une double liaison d'une réaction de photopolymérisation lors de la mesure d'une surface de la couche colorée (11C) avec un spectre d'absorption infrarouge est A, l'intensité de pic lorsque l'agent de coloration n'est pas réticulé est A0, l'intensité de pic lorsque l'agent de coloration est le plus réticulé est A1, et un degré de réticulation d'une surface de la couche colorée est représenté par degré de réticulation % = A 0 − A / A 0 − A 1 × 100 ,
    Figure imgb0005
     la couche colorée (11C) est formée de sorte que le degré de réticulation soit de 60 % à 90 %.
  2. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la formation du ruban (10) comprend:
    l'application du matériau de connexion (14) sur une surface circonférentielle entière des fibres optiques (11) chacune formées avec la couche colorée (11C), et
    l'irradiation de lumière ultraviolette sur le matériau de connexion (14), en réticulant le matériau de connexion (14) appliqué sur la circonférence entière des fibres optiques (11) et la résine non réticulée sur la surface de la couche colorée (11C).
  3. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la formation du ruban (10) comprend :
    l'application du matériau de connexion (14) entre les fibres optiques (11) et sur la surface circonférentielle entière des fibres optiques (11) chacune formées avec la couche colorée (11C),
    l'enlèvement d'une partie du matériau de connexion (14) appliqué entre les fibres optiques (11) tout en faisant en sorte que le matériau de connexion (14) demeure appliqué entre les fibres optiques (11), et
    la formation des parties de connexion (12) à des parties discontinues en irradiant de la lumière ultraviolette sur le matériau de connexion (14) et en réticulant le matériau de connexion.
  4. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3,
    dans lequel la formation de la couche colorée (11C) comprend, dans une atmosphère avec une concentration d'oxygène de 0,10 % à 1,0 %, tout en faisant en sorte que la résine non réticulée reste sur la surface en raison de l'inhibition de l'oxygène, l'irradiation de l'agent de coloration avec de la lumière ultraviolette pour former la couche colorée (11C).
  5. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel
    un module de Young du matériau de connexion (14) est de 10 à 300 MPa et une résistance à la rupture du matériau de connexion (14) est de 10 à 30 MPa.
  6. Procédé de fabrication d'un ruban de fibres optiques (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel une épaisseur des parties de connexion (12) est égale ou supérieure à 150 µm.
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